Seattle's updated list of masonry structures at risk from earthquake includes many structures in the Capitol Hill district. Property owners are not currently mandated to retrofit the buildings they own.
A new report on seismic risk details which Seattle structures would be most vulnerable during an earthquake. "The City of Seattle has added some 300 buildings to its list of old brick structures most at risk of damage or collapse in the event of a major earthquake. Among the 1,160 'unreinforced masonry structures' [URMs] counted in a recent report, Capitol Hill continues to have the most of any neighborhood in the city."
Bryan Cohen writes, "URMs, as defined by the city, are old brick buildings that were originally built without steel reinforcements and with inadequate ties between building elements. They are considered to be vulnerable to collapse during severe earthquakes."
While URM property owners must retrofit during major upgrades or changes of use, they aren't required to do so by default. This updated inventory of URMs may be an important step toward such a mandate.
Read the full story: Expanded list of seismically risky buildings could spur a new development wave on Capitol Hill
San Francisco Considers More Aggressive Measures to Earthquake-Proof High Rises
The city has proposed tighter rules for new construction and a more active approach to securing existing tall structures from collapse.
Napa Earthquake Shows Urgency of Building Retrofits
Sunday's powerful Bay Area earthquake brought attention to the urgent need to retrofit existing buildings in California. One expert stated the damage in Napa "was predictable." Do you know the three types of construction that need to be reinforced?
Op-Ed: Portland Should Fully Commit to Earthquake Preparedness
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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
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Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Chicago voters approve permanent festival grounds, penalty for vacant property owners
Currently, major summer and fall festivals take over public parks for weeks at a time, drawing criticism from nearby residents
NYC votes to cut outdoor dining red tape, speed up permitting
New York City also voted to allow the Department of Transportation to begin work on urgent projects before notifying elected officials.
California appears to reject Prop. 45
The proposition would have expanded the projects that qualify for a streamlined environmental review, effectively paring down the California Environmental Quality Act.
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One Hundred Miles
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